# Risk per trade - Tick value

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Important: Manual Tick Value Input (When Auto-Detection Might Be Inaccurate)**

MetaCopier can automatically detect the tick value (also called **point value**) based on your open trades and trade history.\
However, this detection might sometimes be **inaccurate** or **delayed**, especially if:

* You have **very small or very few trades** open
* Positions are far from market price or not moving
* Profits are affected by **swap**, **commission**, or **latency**

In these cases, we recommend entering the tick value manually for accuracy and full control over your risk-per-trade setup.
{% endhint %}

## How to Manually Calculate the Tick Value (Point Value)

If you're unsure what tick value to use, you can calculate it yourself from any **closed trade**.

#### What is tick value?

The tick value is the **cash value of 1 point per 1.0 lot, in your account currency**.

MetaCopier uses this value to size trades so that the maximum loss (if the stop loss is hit) does not exceed your configured risk amount (e.g., $10 or 2% of balance)

## How to calculate the tick value (step by step)

If you prefer to enter the tick value manually (instead of using automatic detection), you can calculate it from any closed trade using the method below.

#### You’ll need:

* Entry price
* Exit price
* Profit (in account currency)
* Trade volume (in lots)
* The symbol’s **point size**
  * e.g. 0.01 for **gold** (XAUUSD), 0.0001 for most forex pairs, 1.0 for many indices

You can download the symbol details (e.g., point size) here:

<div align="center"><img src="/files/vXoK7eEwGzdPrhjH61Qy" alt=""></div>

#### Formula

```
distance     = |entry price – exit price|
pointsMoved  = distance ÷ point size
tick value   = |profit| ÷ volume ÷ pointsMoved
```

### Example: XAUUSD (Gold)

You opened a 0.50 lot trade and earned $48.04 profit.

| Entry   | Exit    | Volume | Profit |
| ------- | ------- | ------ | ------ |
| 3372.31 | 3371.18 | 0.50   | 48.04  |

1. **Distance** = 3372.31 − 3371.18 = **1.13**
2. **Point size** = 0.01
3. **Points moved** = 1.13 ÷ 0.01 = **113**
4. **Tick value** = 48.04 ÷ 0.50 ÷ 113 ≈ **0.85**

So the correct tick value is **0.85 USD per point per 1.0 lot**

### Where to input it

You can configure the tick value in your **Risk Per Trade** settings:

* Globally (applies to all instruments)
* Or as a **per-symbol override** (e.g. only for XAUUSD, NAS100, etc.)

### Tips for accuracy

* Use **closed trades** (not floating profit)
* Make sure volume is in **lots**, not units (e.g. 0.50 not 50,000)
* Always use the correct **point size** (e.g. 0.01 for XAUUSD)
* Average over several trades if needed
* Don't confuse **points** with **pips** - they are not always the same

## Download the Excel Calculator

No need to do the math yourself, download our prebuilt Excel file and just fill in your numbers.

{% file src="/files/0auVrPqLvvcHoxtae1Ei" %}

The calculator computes the tick value for you based on your trade.


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